Tufting machine



`une 13, 1933. F. M MURPHEY TUFT ING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1932 4 Sheets-shew'I l June 13, 1933. F. M. MURPHEY 11,913,550

TUFTING MACHINE Filed March s1, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 2 l INVENTOR Floyd l/l Muryey.

BY I l @m /4 XTTORNEYS.

June 13, 1933. F. M. MURPHEY TUFTINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 5l, 1952 e W w M mm N. T l A Mlm! FM F. M. MURPHEY June 13, 1933.

I TUFTING MACHINE Filed March 5l, 1952 4'SheetS-Sheeb 4 L E. B

ATTRNEYS.

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v Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOYD M. HUBPHEY, 0F ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, .ASSIGNOR T0 LENAWEE TEXTILES, INC.,

. A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN T'UFTING MACHINE Application ined Marca 31, 1932. serial no. 602,307.

This invention relates to fabric tufting machines andhas particularly to do with a novel tuft forming mechanism for such machines.

The principalobjects of the invention are to provide a mechanism capable of forming successive loops upon one side of a piece of' fabric and thereafter holding each loop out of the path of movement of a needle involved in the formation thereof, during the operation of al loop severing mechanism and vwhile the aforesaid needle is Withdrawn from the fabric and thereafter inserted ltherein for the formation of a succeeding loop; to provide an inexpensive and reliable mechanism capable of performing such loop forming, holding and cutting operations at comparatively high operating speeds; and generally to rovide' an improved 'and simpliied tuft fldrming mechanism which can be readilya plied to an available and stand ard form ofpsewing machine. In the drawings:

, Figure 41 is a front elevational view of the tufting machine embracing the princi les of the invention and with certain parts t ereof broken away so that the mechanism can better be seen;

- Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the machine disclosed by Figure las it might appear looking from the right hand side thereof;

Figure 3 also is an end elevational view of the structure disclosed by Figure 1 except that it is taken from the left hand side thereof and has certain parts broken for the purpose of better illustrating the mechanism thereof;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine disclosed by Figure 1 and is taken substantially in the plane of line 4 4 thereon;

Figure 5 is w fragmentary cross-sectional view of the machine taken substantially in theplane of line 5 5 in Fig. 4;

Figure 6 also is a fragmentary cross-sectional view but taken in the plane of line 6-6 in Figure 4; l

Figure 7 is another vertical cross-sectional view of the machine as it might appear in l' the plane of line 7,-7 in Figure 1 and with the needle of the machine extended downwardly to. the limit of its movement in Such action;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional viewi similar to that disclosed by Figure 7 except that the needleis in an elevated position and certain other parts of the mechanism are in a different position from that shown by Figure Figure 9 is a front view of the parts of the mechanism illustrated by Figs 7 and 8 with the needle and other parts in the position illustrated by Figure 8;

FigurelO is a plan view ofthe portio of the machine illustrated by Figs. 7, 8 and 9, except that'in this figure certain parts are broken away for the purpose of illustrating others therebeneath. In this figure the needle is in )the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a piece of fabric after having been operated upon by a tufting machine embracing the principles of this invention; and A F1gure 12 is a transverse sectional view of the tufted fabric illustrated by Figure 11 and illustrating the iared strands of the yarn after the tufting operation is completed. v

Referring particularly to Figure 1, 'a tufting machine 10, embracing the principles of this invention, comprises a horizontally disposed base plate 11 having a curved beam 12 projecting from one end thereof, the outer end of which lies substantially in a horizontal plane in parallel relation to and above the base 1l. Immediately above the base 11 a substantially vertical portion of the beam 12 is provided with a bearing in which is journaled a horizontally disposed shaft 13 which extends along the upper surface of the base 11 in spaced relation thereto and is journaled adjacent the opposite end of the base in an upwardly projecting support 14 formed integrally with the base.

The 'opposite end of the shaft 13 extends' beyond the vertical portion of the beam 12 and has rigidly secured thereon a combination iiywlieel and pulley 16 to which power 100 for operating the machine is supplied by a belt (not shown). Immediately inside the wheel 16 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 13 an eccentrically mounted cam 17 having a spherical surface 18 on which is rotatably journaled one end of a pitman rod 19. The opposite end of the pitman rod likewise is journaled on a spherical bearing memberl 21 which is secured rigidly by a machine screw 22 in a-boss 23 projecting outwardly from adjacent one end of a curved lever or rocker 24. A supporting stud 26 rigidly secured in the beam 12 pivotally. supports an intermediate portion of the lever 24 and permits the oscillation of the latter upon the stud by the piston rod 19 and the cam 17 when the shaft 13 is rotated. The opposite end ofthe lever 24 is connected by a link 27 to an operating member 28 secured adjustably by screws 29 upon an intermediate portion of a needle shaft 31. Bearings 32 and 33, formed in a vertically projecting head 34 of the beam 12, slidably support the needle shaft 31 and permit its reciprocation by the oscillating lever 24. Secured in the /slitted lower end of the shaft 31 by a nut 36 is a needle 37 having an eye 38 adjacent the lower sharpened end thereof through which preferably a cord or thread 39 is adapted to extend.v

Secured on the shaft 31 by a screw 41, and in a region immediately beneath the operating member 28, is a collar 42 having a stud 43 projecting outwardly therefrom on which is resiliently secured, by a spring 44 and a nut 46, a pair of discs 47 of a thread tensioning device 48. The cord 39 from the needle 37 is adapted to be threaded between the discs 47 and to be properly tensioned thereby during the operation of the machine.

Above the tensioning device 48 the cord extends through an'openy guide 49 secured by a screw 51 on the upper end of the needle shaft 31, thereafter through a pair of guides 52 and 53 secured in spaced relation by screws 54 upon an intermediate portion ofe the lever 24 and thence between a pair of discs 56 forming a part of a tension device 57. The discs 56 are loosely mounted upon a stud bolt 58 (see Fig. 3) projecting from an intermediate portion of the beam 12 and between the beam and the spring 59 adjustably retained on the outer end of the stud bolts by a nut 61. From the disc 56 the cord extends through a pair of guides 62 and 63 secured to the beam 12 by a stud 64 and thence to a spool or ball not shown and from which the cord is unwound by the operation of the lnachine.

Behind the needle shaft 31 and mounted for reciprocation in bearings 66 and 67 formed in the machine head 34 is a vertically disposed shaft 68 the lower end of which has rigidly secured thereto a presser foot 69 for engaging the upper surface of a piece of fabric 71 upon which the machine is adapted to operate. In order tomaintain the presser foot in an elevated position when desired, the shaft 68 has a screw 72 supported by an intermediate portion thereof and just above the bearing 67, which screw is adapted to rest in a notch 73 formed in a lever 74 which is manually elevated into ,the aforesaid operative position whenever desired. The lever is pivotally supported by a. screw 76 which is threaded into and supported by the bearing 67.

In order to prevent rotation of the shaft 68 but to permit the reciprocation thereof, there extends through an opening in an intermediate portion of the shaft 68 a pilot rod 76 which is engaged and held rigidly in position by a screw 77. The opposite end of the pilot rod 76 is provided with a supporting ring 78 in which is rigidly secured an intermediate portion of a pilot shaft 79 which is journaled at opposite ends in bearings 81 and 82 formed integral with the head 34. On the shaft 68 and above the pilot rod 76 is secured adjustably by a screw 83a supporting ring 84 from which a lug 86 projects rearwardly in such position as to be disposed between the extremities of a leaf spring 87 and a lever 88.

The opposite end of the leaf spring is secured rigidly to a lug 90 projecting from the rear of the beam 12 and is engaged intermediate its ends by the lower end of a screw 89, the end of which extends through a lug 91 projecting also from the rear of the beam 12. A lock nut 92 is employed on the end of the screw 89 above the lug 91 for main taining the screw in any desired adjustable position.

The lever 88 is secured intermediate its ends to the rear of the beam 12 by a screw 93 and one end thereof has fastened thereto a chain 94 by which the lever is manually operated by a treadle (not shown). The opposite end of the lever 88 is normally urged downwardly by a helical tension spring 95, one end of which is attached to the end of the level and the other end of which is anchored to the bearing 82 by any suitable means (not shown). When the chain 94 is pulled downwardly by the treadle the opposite end of the lever 88 elevates the shaft 68 in opposition to the resilient force exerted by the springs 87 and 95.

Referring again to the shaft 13, an end portion thereof beyond the bearing 14 supports a head 96 having a guideway 97 formed diametrically therein in which the head of a stud bolt 98 is secured by a screw 99 extending therethrough. The head of the screw 99 is prevented from moving longitudinally of the guideway 97 by an arcuate member 101 secured to the head 96 across @ne extremity of the guideway 97 therein.

Rotatably mounted on the stud 98 and maintained in position thereon by a nut 102 is a relative y short connecting rod 103 in the opposite end of which oscillates a pin 104 rojecting from one end of an arm 106 rigi 1y secured at its opposite end by' an adjusting screw 107 upon alug 108 projecting outwardly from one side of an oscillating member 109. The lower extremity of the oscillating member is rigidly secured upon a shaft 111, the op osite `ends of which are journaled in space bearings 112 projecting rearwardly fromthe base 11. Retaining rings 113 secured .to the opposite ends of the shaft 111 by screws 114 prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 111 but permit the oscillation'thereof by the oscillatin member 109. e'

ournaled at opposite ends between a palr of spaced bearings 116 formed at the upper extremity of the oscillating member 109 1s a relatively short shaft 117 having rigidly secured to anintermediate portion thereof, a feed bar 118 (seeFigs. 3, 4 and 7). The forward end of the bar 118 rests upon a cam 119 and a bracket 121 secured on an intermediate portion of the bar extends beneath the cam for limiting the upward movement of the bar. Projecting upwardly from ythe forward end of the bar is a serrated feeder 122 which is adapted to engage the lower side of'the'fabric-and to feed the latter during the operation of the machine.

Owing-to the angular position of the c arn 119 upon the-shaft 13 and the mechanism by which the feeder bar'118 is operated, the serrated feeder is caused to move in a subs tantiaily rectangular path during an upper movement of `whlch it engages and moves the fabric rearwardly through the machine-. l'

Mounted on a lower curvedend 123 of the rocher 24 is a trunnion 124 on which one end of a pitman rod 126 is journaled while' the opposite. end of the rod is journaled on a. trunnion 127 projecting from a collar 128 adjustably mounted on a shaft 129 which is journaled for reciprocatory movement along an axis parallel to the shaft 13, in

bearings 131, 132 and 133 projecting upwardly from the base 11. vlBe'tween the bearings 132 and 133 is disposed on the shaft 129 an arm 134 through which the shaft slides during iits reciprocating movement but which is capable of angularly rotating the shaft by reason of a key 136 extending from the arm and into a groove or keyway 137 formed in the shaft longitudinally thereof. y

lirojecting upwardly from the base/11 in front of the arm 134 is a boss 138 having a spring' pressed detent mechanism 139 secured in an opening therein which is adapted to engage the arm 134 and to resiliently retain an end of the latter remote from the shaft`129 against a cam 141 secured by a mechanism.

thereto during such reciprocation through thi medium of the cam 141 and the arm 13 i On the end of the shaft 129 remote from the pitman rod 126 is secured, by a pin indicated at 142, a block 143 having a slot therein in which is bolted as indicated at 144 e a vertically disposed portion of a loop form ing member 146. The remote end ofy the member 146 terminates in a tongue or hook 147 which is adapted to be projected between the needle and the cord lying along the rear side thereof when the needle is in its lowermost position. This motion of the tongue is produced by the longitudinal movement of the shaft 129 and after having been thrust inside the cord in this manner the tongue is caused to move rearwardly by the operation of the cam 141 and the arm 134 which impart a slight angular movement to the shaft 129.

iPivoted on a post 148 at an intermediate portion of the Vloop forming member 146 is a lrnife holder 149 to which a -knife 151 is attached by screws 152. The outer end of the blade holder is provided with a roller 153 which lis retained by a spring 150 in a notch 154 formed in a rod 156 secured by a screw 157 in an opening in one side of the bearing member 14. Adjacent the outer limit of.V

-movement of the loop forming member 146 gripping mechanism 161, an end of which terminates immediately back of the path of movement of the needle 37 and is there engaged periodically by a movable jaw 162 of the gripper mechanism which is'. secured rigidly by screws 164 to a movable block 163. The block is provided .with a pair of longitudinal openings through whlch ex- 'tend a pair of shafts 164 and 166 secured rigidly at opposite ends in upwardly projecting portions 167 and 168 of the base 11. Springs 169 and 171 mounted on the rods 164 and 166 respectively between the block 163 and the upwardly projecting portion 168 tend to urge the block 163 in a direction to cause engagement between the engaging ends of the jaws 159v and Inorder to separate the jaws at proper in 162 of the gripping.-

i against the compression of the spriigs 169 and 171.

Threaded into one side of the block 163 is a rod 178 having a downwardly bent end 179 which is adapted to be en ged by the outer end of an arm 181 attac ed by a pin 182 to the upwardl V projecting frame por- `-tion 168 in whic'lii't e rods 164 and 166`are secured in one end. A chain 183 attached to the arm 181 passes over a pulley V184 secured to the frame 11 and thence downwardly to a treadle not shown When' the treadle is depressed the chain 183 pulls the block 163 against the springs 169 and 171 to separate the jaws 159 and 162 of the gripping mechanism 161` v v Substantially all of the mechanism suprted b the base 11 is surrounded by a c asf ing 186 aving a top or table 187 extending in the plane just beneath the presser foot 69 and having an openn therein through which the upper extremity bf the serrated feeder 122 may project.

-In the operation of the mechanism a piece of fabric referably of somewhat heavy qualit is isposed on the work table 187 and t edge thereof is forced beneath the presserv foot 69 insuch position as to be en aged by the serrated feeder 122 during e upper and rearward movement thereo Such movement of thefeedei tends to move the fabric rearwardly 'under the l ressure foot at intervals when thewneedle 37 lis above the plane of the fabric. y

All of the mechanism is so timed that when the needle moves downwardly through the fabric between the intervals of motion Vthereof it carries the cord downwardly through the fabric 71 in the form of a prelimnary loop 191 having portions 192 and 193`respectively lying along the front and rear surfaces of the needle. At this stage of operations the tongue 147 moves between vthe portion 193 and the needle 37 and as soon as it is far enough beyond the needle so that there is no danger of the loop portion 193 becoming disengaged therefrom the cam' 141 so actuates the arm 134 as to move the' tongue 147 rearwardly in a ion immediately between the separated en s of the grip-i-` pers 159 and 162. During 4this movement the needle 37 has moved upwardly until a final loop 194 has been formed from the preliminary loop lportion 193 by they tongue 147.

As soon as t e tongue 147 reaches its backward limit of angular movement the follower '1 74' rolls oil' of the edge of the laterally projectii portion- 177 vof the cam 176 and under e influence of the springs 169 the blade holder 149 is tilted upwardly thus dividing the loop 194 into portions 196 and 198 comprising a tuft 201. Immediately thereafter the fabric is moved rearwardlyl by the operation of the serrated feeder 122 and the needle 37 again ieroes the fabric to begin the formation ofp a successive preliminary loop 191. t

Durin the formation ofV such loop the gripper jaws 159 and 162 securely hold the ends. of the previously formed tufts between them durin the downward and upward movement o the needle 37 and until just before the beginning of the angular movement of the tongue 147. At this time the jaws again open under the influence ofthe laterally projecting portion 177 of the cam 176 to receive the succeeding final loop 194.

In this manner is formed a continuous row of the tufts 201 and by operating the machine upon the fabric until the latter isA is indicated by Figs. 11 and-12 to provide a solid and continuous surface of substantially parallel strands capable of serving as a soft and eilcient floorsurface covering. By,

changing at intervals the color of the thread employed in the machine and by properly mani ulatin the fabric 71 to cause the needle 3 to fol ow a predetermined path it is' possible to produce with the machine almost any conceivable rug or mat design.

While the'structure as herein disclosed constitutesa preferred form and application of the invention, it is to be understood that other structures differ' widely from that herein disclosed are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: t l

1. A tufting machine including a strand carrying reciprocating needle, a reciprocating and rockahle loop forming hook operatively associated therewith, a loop gripper remotel located with respect to sa1d needle, an means for rocking ing its loop forming reciprocating movement to carry the loo .Y being formed away from said needle and) into position to be engaged b said gripper.

2. A tu ting machine including a' strand carrying reci rocatin needle, an axially re-` versely to the path of trave of said needle ies iis

said hook dura loop forming hook on said shaft for en gaging the strand carried by said needle, means for reciprocatin the shaft to engage the hook with t e strand, a loo gripper remotely located with res ect to sai needle, and means for rocking sai shaft and i hook during the loop forming reciprocatin movement to carry the loop being forme f away from said needle and into position to 10 be en aged by said gripper.

3. tufting machine including a strand carrying reciprocating needle, fabric feeding mechanism operatively associated with the needle, a reciprocating and rockable 15100 formin hook operatively associated wit the n le, a loop gripper remotely 1ocated with respect to the needle, means for actuating the fabric feeding mechanism to move the fabric, and means for rocking said 2 hook during its loop forming reciprocatin movement to carry the loop being forme away from the needle and into position to be engaged bg' the gripper, the rockin f t e movement o hook and the movement o 25 the fabric being substantially in yunison.

FLOYD M. MURPHEY. 

